re: Defense Distributed's quest for the printable gun (Updates in OP)(Posted by joshnorris14 on 12/26/12 at 5:32 pm to SundayFunday)

quote:Reprap?

The Rep-rap is one of the hobbiest 3D printers. It can print about 80% of its own components. It's not as good of a quality of a 3D printer as the industrial 3D printers but from what I understand, the DD guys have been printing off of the hobbiest printers. The guy who originally made the file for the AR-15 lower receiver (HaveBlue) used a rep-rap and fired off 200 shots without it breaking.

quote:And would everything you print be made of that plastic?

As of right now, the rep-rap prints with various types of polymers, but in the future there is nothing preventing them from advancing to the next level of materials.

re: Defense Distributed's quest for the printable gun (Updates in OP)(Posted by kclsufan on 12/26/12 at 7:13 pm to Alahunter)

quote:Hope they don't get busted for firearms manufacturing without a liscense. Wouldn't surprise me to see the ATF all over them

This. I've seen 3d printing first hand and talked to some manufacturers. The industry's growing fast and the list of available materials to print with is increasing. I can see the feds trying to control or track certain materials that can be used for making guns.

re: Defense Distributed's quest for the printable gun (Updates in OP)(Posted by WikiTiger on 12/26/12 at 7:27 pm to joshnorris14)

quote:It's going to be so hard for them to track this in the future it will never be a "real" law. It will be a law in the way that piracy is illegal.

Thanks josh for bringing this topic to the board. It fascinates me like Bitcoin does.

Essentially, what we're seeing is a decentralization of many things (money, manufacturing, content production and distribution, etc.) due to technology. And the internet will allow people to globally share all this instantly.

It's liberating!

3D printing is going to bring about a "crisis" of "piracy" in the future. I put crisis and piracy in quotes because I don't think it's a negative thing, but it will certainly be portrayed that way.

You will see 3D printing vilified because it will "put people out of work" or "destroy American manufacturing" or some other shite. And you will see companies bitch and complain because now Joe Blow can print the part he needs for his car instead of having to go buy it. And they will call it "piracy" or a litany of other menacing terms to propagandize against it.

re: Defense Distributed's quest for the printable gun (Updates in OP)(Posted by KosmoCramer on 12/26/12 at 7:29 pm to Alahunter)

quote:It shall be unlawful— (1) for any person— (A) except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce;

I think that Josh was saying that if it doesn't cross state lines, the feds can't touch them.